Council proposes family-friendly NYE

NEW Year's Eve festivities in Byron Bay this year may incorporate a 9pm fireworks display to make the event more family-friendly.

A Byron Shire Council staff report has recommended council dip into its New Year's Eve reserve fund to increase by $7000 its $28,000 budget to pay for the additional firework display as well as a number of other minor improvements to the celebrations.

The report said last year's festivities which attracted 10,000 people was very well received but a number of families had requested an early fireworks display.

It is proposed that there be more child-focused entertainment between 4pm and 9pm.

Business group Byron United's $25,000 financial contribution towards the festivities was likely to be halved this year, the report reveals.

More education about alcohol-free zones and more bins at this year's event were recommended "due to the large amount of alcohol confiscated".

The commander of the Tweed/Byron Area Local Command Superintendent Stuart Wilkins had "extreme concerns" about Belongil Fields Caravan park, claiming there was serious over-crowding and alcohol abuse.

"Consequently this area became a significant risk to police and other emergency services personnel with behaviour bordering on riotous by some persons in the locality," Supt Wilkins wrote to council in April.

The report and its recommendations will go before council on Thursday night.